Reversing the district court’s decision, the Federal Circuit granted a stay of patent infringement litigation proceedings until the PTAB can complete a post-grant patent validity review. This was the court’s first ruling on a stay when the suit and review process were happening concurrently.

“Smoking Gun” Needed: Even after Clapper Provided a Path to Challenge the Law, the FISA Amendments Act May Still Be Bulletproof

Written by: Christopher A. Crawford

Edited by: Loly Sosa

The ACLU’s challenge to the NSA’s surveillance of American citizens failed because plaintiffs, who were American citizens, had no standing; in other words, they could not prove that they had been injured by the law. Plaintiffs will need a “smoking gun” that their privacy had been violated before they could gain standing.

Last week, the lower house of Brazil’s Congress passed the landmark Marco Civil da Internet, which is being called an “Internet Bill of Rights.” The bill enshrines net neutrality and rights to privacy and freedom of expression online, and also shields Internet service providers from liability for content uploaded by third parties. The final version of the bill dropped a provision designed to limit data collection in response to extensive lobbying by Google and Facebook.

Tennessee currently limits the ability of its municipalities to create broadband networks. Four bills introduced in the Tennessee legislature seek to ease the restrictions. Although the bills have bipartisan backing in the legislature, private Internet service providers have expressed concern. Broadband alternatives have generated interest and controversy due in part to initiatives including Google Fiber and the municipal fiber-optic network in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Defects in the DATA Act
By Mark Verstraete – Edited by Michael Shammas

On February 12, 2014, Senators Rockefeller (D-WV) and Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill that would require data brokers—companies that collect and sell consumer information to third parties—to be more transparent about their practices. The Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act represents an attempt to empower consumers to regain some control over their personal information. However, the transparency and control offered by the DATA Act is limited.